Advent Day 13, Heifer International

We started this project over a month and a half ago!  As a family we set to work making crafts that we could sell at a church craft bizarre so we could raise money to help impoverished families through Heifer International.  The boys decided that we would make a goal of raising $150 so we could buy a goat and a beehive.  That would help 2 different families and matches some of our own interests.

Tonight was the night that we counted our money and ordered the gifts to send to another family.  We did not have quite enough for a goat, so we had to alter our plans.  The boys enjoyed looking through all the options with daddy and picking out their gifts.

Next it was mama's turn to help them out.  I got to do the ordering of their selection.  Instead of helping 2 families, we get to send animals to 3 families!  The boys chose a flock of ducks, a flock of geese, and a beehive!  They were still so thrilled to be able to bless another family.

This might not been the most fun and exciting part of our advent, but we all loved that with the help of friends and family, we were able to bless others.  This is an activity that has helped the boys learn so many important virtues that we want them to practice every day!

Thank you to everyone that has helped make this donation possible.  You have made an impact on my little world-changers.

Our Advent Calendar

It's finished!  We've set out our plans for the next month's activities as we anticipate the coming of Christ!  Are you celebrating advent?  Are you interested in it?  Here are our family activities:

1. Christmas on the Farm
2. Decorate Christmas Tree (Sunday #1)
3. Make Paper Chains
4. Set up Nativity
5. Drive around and look at Christmas Lights
6. Santa Clause Day, decorate and hang stockings
7. Make Christmas Ornaments, Open Stocking gifts
8. Make Christmas Cookies
9. Give Cookies to a friend (Sunday #2)
10. Read a Christmas book at bed time.
11. Make a Play Dough Baby Jesus
12. Hot Chocolate for dinner!
13. Send Money to Heifer International
14. Sleep Over with a friend
15. Board Game Night
16. Christmas Movie and Popcorn (Sunday #3)
17. Play with Nativity Set
18. Decorate Wrapping Paper
19. Rootbeer Floats
20. Sing Christmas Songs Together
21. Make a Present for a Friend
22. Hike or Sled (weather depending)
23. Christmas Treasure Hunt (Sunday #4)
24. Christmas Eve Service, Light Christ Candle, Bake a Birthday Cake
25. Christmas Day, Open Presents

Thank you What's in the Bible for helping us prepare our family with the new Everyday Emmanuel book and many fantastic blogs that gave us ideas to fill in the blanks for our family!

Family Project: Heifer International

How do you teach your children about compassion, generosity, love, joy, and kindness?  How do you help them live out the gospel of Jesus Christ - in real ways that touch the lives of other people?  We have been blessed this year with the ability to support Heifer International, who helps impoverished families worldwide!

Don't get me wrong - we absolutely do not have a bunch of extra money lying around that we are able to just give away - quite the opposite.  But we want to make a difference in the lives of others and help our children begin to understand that they can do the same.  We have adopted this project as our family Christmas project!  

Together with the boys we are beginning to work on crafts that we will be selling to friends, family, church members, blog readers - whoever is interested in helping my boys earn $150 to buy a goat for a family in need of a livelihood, and a beehive for another.  The boys are excited about doing projects as a family (so are the parent Crums).  They know that their work is going to help people.  

One project that we have started is felt crowns (made by mama Crum).  We will also be making fire starters, ornaments, and a few other items to help us reach our goal.  If you are interested in learning more about our crafts and how you can contribute to our cause, email me - crumsthisnthat @ gmail 

Do you work with your children on special projects that help other people?  What do you support?  Have you heard of Heifer International before?